ESMEE BY THE RIVER

Esmee by the river, a face like a blue jay
A kiss for a shiver was a pretty brave trade
Knowing too little, but hands know their own way
And hoping that the river might just purr a bit more
Hoping that the river might just purr some more
Now it’s been ‘most a year and I still sometimes wonder
Did I step too far or run too soon?
Til you chased both our fears off with rose-petal thunder
And lit up the river with a heart-sized moon

Esmee by the river, a face like a rainbow
Butterflies growling, but what does the gut know?
Bourboned and prowling for faces or footholds
But I could see through your eyes like the storm-pane was gone
I could see through your eyes like the storm-pane’s gone
And I knew I was moved that you stood so open
And I saw I was drawn to peek inside
Was the glass so pure or the window broken?
But the river reached up and it carried me on

Esmee by the river, a face like a memory
Patient and pissed like a black man’s song
I carved you a poem from rosewood and ebony
And threw it to the river to carry along
I hope when she brings it all slinky and sly
That you’ll slide on in it and taste of its verse
You ask will I write you, and of course the reply
Is that rivers of honey they sing “Honey, of course”
Rivers of honey they sing “Honey, of course”


Copyright 2004. Words and music by Danny Schmidt